The League of Disciplined Gentlemen

Statements fly everyday that say the future is bright. The future is big! The future is for you! However, the critical disclaimer that is never appended to these beautifully crafted words whenever quoted is this; only applicable to those who are disciplined now. All of us men will pay; some for enduring discipline and some for the lack of it. The chief gaping difference between men ten years from now will be their investment in discipline. Their wives will either say I’m glad you did or I wish you did. Their children will either say I wonder if dad or I’m glad dad did. Awesome daddies who deserve the kryptonian S on their chests need to realize that their families are not waiting for them to be awesome daddies when they get married or when they become fathers. Their families, even when they do not know it, wish these men would invest in their families now. When is the best time to make a relationship work? Five years ago. Let me explain.

Five years ago if (insert your name) took his walk with the Lord seriously, he would be mature enough to know hat to do when the enemy attacks his wife and kids. He would have no fear of looking hypocritical when he tells his kids that they need to go to Church. He would be a living example. Five years ago if (insert your name) took his health and fitness seriously, he would go to the gym with his wife before complaining that she is overweight and telling her to do something about it. Five years ago if (insert your name) had read a book a month without fail, he would now have more knowledge concerning life issues. Five years ago if (insert your name) had been disciplined he would have had a happier life today.

Men more than women I believe need to nurture discipline for the following reason. Men are the heads of households or will be one day when they marry. If they lead their girls will follow. A friend once told me that he was enjoying life. When he reaches 27 he will start thinking about life and settling down. I get surprised when I inquire what “enjoying life” means only to discover it involves playing around with a girl’s heart/ body, fooling around with some alcohol or drug, raving every Friday and waking up with a list of consequences one never anticipated. It is so much fun that we do it again next Friday. As they enjoy life more than half if not all ladies will not wait for a man like that to mature. It’s like watching grass grow. They will look for a currently mature one. Postpone your discipline and postpone your happiness.

If you will want a good wife by age 27, you had better start working on your character way in advance. Ladies are not waiting for you to stop enjoying life then start a fresh when you’re ready. Imagine a girl who says, “He’s such a nice guy. He just watches 10 hours of TV everyday and sits in the house doing nothing. Let him enjoy life. When he’s ready to get married, I will be right here waiting for him.” I assure you if she does wait, elephants will be driving automobiles.”

If you desire a godly family at age 30, then you better be ready to be their spiritual guide. You won’t become one overnight or when your first son is born. You had better start meditation on scripture years in advance. You see, every man pays. The ones that pay for discipline will sacrifice two hours of sleep each day to ensure they are physically and spiritually fit. They will replace 10 hours of television with 10 hours of leisure reading. They will dedicate time to grow their gifts as opposed to going on Facebook and Twitter five hours a day. They will pay and they will pay now. The second category of men will pay later. They will pay lots of money to take their kids to counselling. They will pay lots of time and money in filing divorce papers. They will spend a lot of emotional energy trying to explain why they can’t be dependable people.

You see, the future is not necessarily bright. The future is being lit up or being doused by your discipline or lack of it. At the end, its brightness will be evidence of discipline. Its lacklustre will be evidence of the lack of discipline. For the league of disciplined gentlemen, let’s put it like this. Today is the future made present. Make the future bright.

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Ernest Wamboye is a disciple of Jesus Christ, a husband, a father, an author and a speaker. He has been married to the lovely Waturi since September 2012. They have a passion for youth ministry. Together they minister to young adults on the gospel and pre-marital relationships. Ernest has authored two books, The Human Temple, a novel, and Lust and the City- a guide on sexual purity.